Half to frank spaulding



(No Model.)

J. J. PELTON.

TRUSS. No. 409,299. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

lfiluesses. Ind anion gasz'afi J; .Z'a Zion y-WW N. PETERS, Fhala-Lilhogmphurv Washington, n. ov a NITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOSIAH J. PELTON, OF MILES GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO FRANK SPAULDING, OF SAME PLACE.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,299, dated August 20, 1889.

Application filed March 29, 1889. Serial No. 305,316. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSIAH J. PELTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miles Grove, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification.

My invention consists in the improvements in trusses hereinafter set forth and explained, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in wl1ich Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved truss. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of same, showing its operation in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a View in elevation of an improved pad used on my truss.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures.

The objects of my invention are to construct a truss consisting of a strip of spring-steel or other suitable metal, curving inwardly in the central part thereof and having secured to its inside surface at or near the ends thereof strips of spring metal, the ends thereof projecting toward each other and having suitable pads secured to the ends of said strips, so that when secured against the abdomen of a patient by means of a strap secured to the ends of the main strip and passing around the back of the patient the metallic portion of the truss conforms to the abdomen, as illus trated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and securely retains the pads in place, while at the same time by construction of the spring portion of the device the maximum amount of flexibility is obtained, so that the pads readily conform to the movements of the body of the patient.

Other features of my invention are set forth hereinafter in the specification and claim.

In the construction of my device shown A is a strip of spring-steel or other suitable spring metal curved inwardly at the central part thereof, and having a loop 13 secured to one end thereof and a buckle C secured to its opposite end, to which a strap D is secured, which is adapted to be passed around the patients back and secured so as to secure the truss upon the patients body. To the inward faces of the ends of the spring-strip A, I secure short inwardly-projecting springs of strips of spring metal E E, these springs being so shaped that their inner ends project inward from the inner face of the strip A at such an angle (preferably of from twenty to forty-five degrees) as maybe required in particular cases. To the ends of the springs E and E are adj nstably secured pad-supports F, provided with suitable bolt-holes f, so that they may be moved out or in on the springs E E, so as to adjust the pads G G to fit any particular case desired. The pads G G are secured to the outer ends of the pad-holders F by means of vertical hinges l-I, so that the pads will turn freely thereon to the right or left, but are prevented from any movement in other directions.

The pads G G are shown as two forms of the pads used by me; but in practice I use either or both forms of this pad,-as will suit the particular case in hand, the projection I at the lower part of the pad G being for the purpose of engaging with the hip-strap (not shown) when such strap is required to retain thepad G in position on account of the peculiar location of the rupture. On the back of the projection I, I secure a small upwardly-projecting hook J, to keep such strap from slipping off of the projection I. In operation I have found this form of pad. completely overcomes the difficulties experienced in keeping the ordinary forms of pad in place. In operation my improved truss operates equally well whether the patient is ruptured on one or both sides of the abdomen. In placing the truss upon a patient a truss is selected in which the strip A is of suitable length to reach across and around to the sides of the abdomen when conformed to the shape thereof, as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The pads G and G are then adjusted in or out, as desired, so as to cover the point or points ruptured when in place. The strap D is then drawn around the back of the patient until the ends of the spring-strip A are drawn inward, as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, which firmly presses the pads G and G against the abdomen, one or both of which, being on the point or points ruptured, prevents the intestines from protruding. It will be obvious that I can use one or both of the inwardly-proj ectin g springs E and pads G and G, if desired, the truss being made with either one or two of the inwardly-projecting springs E, according to the necessities of the case, and also that the compound-sprin g mechanism of my device operates to produce the greatest possible amount of flexibility in the truss, while at the same time the maximum amount of retaining force is exerted upon the parts of the abdomen desired.

Having thus fully described my invention so as to enable others to make and use the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

The combination, in atruss, of aninwardlycurved spring A and a strap D, secured to the ends thereof, with the inwardly-projecting springs E, secured to the inner faces of the ends of the spring A, and pad-holders F, adj ustably secured to the ends of the springs E E, and pads G G, hinged to the pad-holders,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH J. PELTON. XVitnesses:

H. P. SULLIVAN, J. ROBT. HALL. 

